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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 4, 1996)
On-court karma Coach believes in Zen, art of basketball Every team in the NBA has a coach. The Chicago Bulls have Phil Jackson, a spiritual teacher and guide. To Jackson, coaching transcends X’s and O’s. “Coaching is constantly making the ties that go between these individuals,” Jackson said. The March edition of SWING, a magazine for twenty-somethings, was a spirituality issue. On the cover above “Hollywood’s Hottest Heal ers,” “Punk Rock Hare Krishnas,” and “Transcendental Travel” was the title of its main feature “Zen Mas ters: Michael Jordan and the Bulls.” Of course SWING wrote about the Bulls. Everybody’s writing about them. After all, Chicago’s finest have amassed a record home winning streak of 43 games. And they stand to be the first team in NBA history to win 70 games in a season. On-court, the team creates beauty and magic. And its players are expressive and full of vitality. There’s Michael, Scottie and Dennis. The personalities the press never tires of writing about. Michael soars. Scottie struts. And Dennis, well he rebounds and gets tattoos. Jordan has graced many magazine covers, but this one conveyed a very different image of the competitor. Imagine Jordan as a Buddhist icon. He’s sitting cross-legged, in full Bulls regalia. And each of his six arms is outstretched with a basket ball at its fingertips. The article inside tells about the coach, a student of Zen philosophy who has devel oped in his team a spirit of coopera tion, and who has taught his players how to live in the moment. In a game against Philadelphia, Jordan matched up against and dominated 76er’s rookie Jerry Stackhouse: “I was talking to him on the court,” Jordan said. “It wasn’t malicious. I was just trying to get the best out of him and to get him to Kelly Johnson There’s Michael, Scottie and Dennis. Michael soars. Scottie struts. And Dennis, well he rebounds and gets tattoos. relax. ‘Calm down, let the game come to you, don’t chase the game.’ “It’s kind of odd that I’m talking to my opponent like that, but I respect every competitor, you know — I want them to do well.” Jackson has been a guru to Jordan. “In the process of becoming a great athlete," Jackson said. “Michael has attained a quality of mind few Zen students ever achieve. His ability to stay calm and intensely focused in the midst of utter chaos is unsurpassed.” Jackson was raised in rural Montana by two fundamentalist evangelical preachers who took an oath of poverty. Jackson was not allowed to go to movies, read comic books or attend dances. So he spent much of his childhood honing athletic skills. He was known as “The Mop” at the University of North Dakota because he’d dive for loose balls. He was a standout, averaging 24.7 points per game during his senior season. While he sported his skills on the basketball court, he devoted his off court energies to the study of philosophy, religion and psychology. Jackson was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1967. He was the team hippie. He wore his hair long and bicycled to games at Madison Square Garden. In the off-season, he worked on American Indian reservations. After retiring from the NBA, Jackson coached for a time in the CBA. He was hired by the Bulls as an assistant coach in 1987. On Dec. 17, 1988, then head coach Doug Collins was ejected from the game and Jackson stepped in with his personal life philosophy and a new defensive strategy. Something clicked. The team recovered from a 14 point deficit and won the game. Horace Grant said, “It was like we were let out of a cage. We won the game because we were so relaxed.” Jackson took over as head coach during the next season and three NBA Championships soon followed. Jackson’s spiritual approach to basketball is probably more evident this season than ever before. As the public and press ogle the 70-game mark, the Bulls’ concentrate on one game at a time. One moment at a time. “What you do at every moment is important and has meaning,” Jackson said.’Today is important. That’s why I encourage my players to be at every game, not to miss any practice — even if you’re somewhat sick — because you don’t want to miss out on anything. It’s an experience that you can’t replace. You’d be missing out on that great experience.” Johnson is a senior news-editorial and English major and a Daily Nebraskan col umnist. Musings Reflecting on the events that shape society More myths and random thoughts for this Thursday: — Mad cow disease. More fun than picking on the Royal family. My only question is the name. Couldn’t the British come up with something more scientific, like Crazy Bovine Fever? — From the “Out of Luck” department: The Menendez brothers’ conviction should help restore a little faith in our criminal justice system. — Although I rarely pay attention to the umpires in baseball, I see John McShcrry’s death as an unfortunate tragedy for the game. — It’s Greek Week time! This year’s misnomer for the affair: “Setting the Standard.” My question: What standard? — Congratulations Bob Dole. You outlasted the “competition.” Hope you are psyched for the race. My pick for your V.P.? Your wife, Elizabeth. She is a woman (a first) and has plenty of political experi ence. Well, it wouldn’t be the first time a couple was running the country. — Bill Clinton? Hello? Bill? Listen, about those campaign promises you never got around to ... — What exactly is the debate about the teaching of evolution/ creationism? Doesn’t the whole God idea get equal time every Sunday? Pretty soon people will be saying that hcliocentrism is a myth. — By the way, the earth is really flat, like a burrito, not round. — Babe the pig takes the world by storm. I have seen the movie twice (once while inebriated, which added an interesting dimension to the whole affair). People love the little porker so much that some are refusing to eat pork anymore. Folks, it’s a movie. Take a break, and please rejoin us in reality. Jody Burke “Playboy says women are furthering their career opportunities. My only question is ivhat exactly would the aforementioned career be, and would it be possible for me to be considered for it?” — Speaking of the Academy Awards, why are some people raging on Mel Gibson? He directed a version of Hamlet that wasn’t too bad, and he acted in it. He was in other pictures like “The Year of Living Dangerously” and so forth. Sure, he isn’t the next coming of Sir Lawrence, but his butt-kickin’ performance in “The Road Warrior” should have warranted an Oscar a long time ago. — Here we go again. Playboy on campus, and the eventual debate on whether or not skin magazines are the devil’s toy. Playboy says women are furthering their career opportuni ties. My only question is what exactly would the aforementioned career be, and would it be possible for me to be considered for it? — Those kooky Freemen. Did you know that our government was illegitimate, and that our federal laws were superseded by local ones? Talk about states’ rights. — Maybe one of these days we’ll be able to keep a chancellor or vice chancellor long enough for them to implement a long-term program that might actually help the students. Naw. — Kudos to the “School is Cool” Jam. Proof that many athletes give back to their communities. — Reasons I don’t consider myself a practicing Catholic? Why, just look at the newspaper lately. Damn women trying to become priests. What were you thinking?! Must be the effects of the birth control. Or evolution being taught in our schools. — Shawntell Hurtgen changed the image of ASUN being only for Greeks? Did I miss something here? Perhaps she forgot to look at this year’s ballots before she gave that quote. — Baseball is here! Baseball is here! Have the Cubbies been mathematically eliminated yet? — Back to religion: Although I find myself further and further from Catholicism every day, I wish a Happy Easter to everybody out there. And to all you Babe lovers out there, I plan on having a great big juicy ham on Sunday. — I guess for me, the key word in assault weapon is “Assault.” — And finally, goodbye, George Bums. Say good night, Gracie. 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